The word BIBLE does not appear in the scriptures at all. It comes from the Greek work “Biblos” and “Biblion” which means “the Book”. It is not called the Book because there are sixty-six books, but because of its pre-eminence over all other books.
The word “Testament” means covenant, and by this term God designated the relation that existed between Himself and His people. The Old Testament or Covenant was given at Mount Sinai and concerns the Jewish race. The New Testament was made in the upper room and concerns believers. This was sealed by the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; Heb. 9: 150.
Our aim in this study is not to undertake detailed exegetical analysis of each book of the Old Testament but a general overview. More than anything else, a survey reveals the unity of the Scriptures which is not only structural but doctrinal and organic.
The Bible was put together according to a definite and divine plan of God who was the Architect as well as the Builder. There are no inconsistencies in the Bible. Throughout man’s natural relationship to God as creator and the possibility of spiritual relationship on the grounds of redemption are kept in view.
THE FORMATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These five books are also called The Pentateuch or Books of the Law: Authorship ascribed to Moses; confirmed by Jesus Christ John 5:46-47).
- Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, I Kings, 1& II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther. These are called the Books of History because they contain the history ofIsrael as a people in the Promised Land
- Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, canticles; these are called The Books of Poetry
- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel. These are the Major Prophets
- Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. (Minor Prophets)
The terms Major and Minor Prophets have got nothing to do with the character of the prophets or with the quality of their message, it merely designated the longer books from the shorter ones.
It is important to know that the books of the Bible are not arranged according to dates of writing. If this was so, the book of Job would come before Genesis. Also, the books of the prophets (Major and Minor) are not arranged according to the dates each of them carried out his ministry. They carried out their ministries in three distinct era of Jewish history, viz; before the exile, during the exile and after the exile. Their order of ministry is as follows:-
- Prophets of Northern Kingdom (Israel) – Jonah, Amos, Hosea.
- Prophets of Southern Kingdom (Judah)- Obadiah, Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Nahum,Habakkuk,Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Lamentations.
- Prophets after the exile – Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
OLD TESTAMENT STATISTICS
- Number of books – 39
- Total Chapters – 929
- Total Verses – 23, 144
- Words – 602, 585
- Middle Book – Proverbs
- Middle Chapter – Job 20
- Middle Verses – 2 Chro 20: 17 -18
- Smallest Book – Obadiah
- Shortest Verse – I Chro. 1:25
- Longest Chapter – Psalm 119
- Longest Verse – Esther 8:9 (89 words; 425 letters)
- Largest Book – Psalms.
Some verses of the Old Testament contain all the letters of the alphabet except one e.g. (in King James Version).
- Ezra 7 :21 contain all except j
- Joshua T: 24;1 Kings 1:9; I Chro 12:40; IIChro 36:10, Eze 28:13; Dan 4:37; Haggai 1:1 contains all except q
- 2 Kings 16:15; 1Chr4:10 contains all except z
- Esther and Canticles (Song of Solomon) do not have the name of God in them.
To be continued …
– gabriel ajibade